Benchmark Mortgage Companies Mortgage Information

We have assembled a library of helpful mortgage information to help answer your questions. Please call us at 804-424-2200 with any questions that you have.

These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency.

Credit
Post-Bankruptcy Home-Owning	When Is It a Good Idea to Get a Home Equity Line of Credit?
Tips on Qualifying for Bad Credit Mortgages	The Benefits of Bad Credit Mortgages
What You Need to Know About Bad Credit Mortgages	The Ins and Outs of a Bad Credit Refinance Loan
Can I Get an FHA Mortgage with Bad Credit?	Repairing Your Credit to Avoid a Bad Credit Home Loan
Getting FHA Mortgage Down Payment Help with Consumer Debt Solutions	Steering Clear of Foreclosure on Home Mortgages
Beware of Credit Insurance Packing with your Home Equity Mortgage	Rejection of Home Mortgage Applications: Discrimination or Valid Credit Concerns?
How To Protect Your Credit Score To Qualify for the Best Home Loan	Improve Your Bad Credit Score To Get a Better Home Mortgage Loan
Understanding Your Credit to Get the Best Home Loan	What is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and How Will it Affect Home Ownership?
Bankruptcy May Not Be Your Last Option	How Can I Avoid Foreclosure?
Is There Hope For My Credit After Bankruptcy?	How and When Your Credit Score is Used
Protecting Your Credit Score to Get a Good Mortgage: Facts and Fiction	Home Buying Essentials: Obtaining a Copy of Your Credit Report
Debunking Four Common Credit Myths	The Smarts of Repairing and Keeping a Healthy Credit Score
How Long Does it Take to Repair Your Credit?	Hope for Home Buyers with Bad Credit
What a Bad Credit Score Really Means To You: Part I	What a Bad Credit Score Really Means To You: Part II
Getting a Mortgage Loan with Bad Credit	How Do Inquiries Affect My Credit Score?
Hybrid ARMs for Bad Credit Borrowers	Credit Scores: Your Credit Report Card
Protect Your Identity to Avoid Mortgage Fraud	When Should I Check My Credit Report?
Suprime Loan Trouble? Try Another Subprime Loan	Some Help for Correcting Your Credit Report Errors
Can I Get a Mortgage Loan with No Credit History?	Recognizing Credit Repair Scams
Mortgage Shopping May Invite the Uninvited	Fannie Mae Seeks to Save You from Foreclosure
Best Use of Credit - a Home Mortgage	Avoid Phishing Credit Scams
Proactive Loan Shopping May Save You From a Subprime Loan	How to Buy a Home with Really Bad Credit
Instant Credit Fixes; Smart and Safe or Rash and Risky?	Three Steps to Better Credit
Find Debt Counseling That Won't Ruin Your Credit	Beware of 'Painless Debt Relief' Claims
Five Steps to Building a Good Credit History	Closing Accounts Can Hurt Your Credit
Paying Credit Card Bills Before the Mortgage; A Surefire Way to Lose Your Home	Quick Fixes and Damage Control for Your Credit Score
Shopping Around is a Must for Subprime Mortgage Borrowers	FHA Loans Not a Bad Idea for Bad Credit Borrowers
Subprime Market Takes its Lead From Wall Street	Should You Consider Renting-to-Own?
Credit Use - How Do You Measure Up?	Credit Use - How Do You Measure Up? Part II
FHA Loans May Become More Competitive	FHA Loans May Become More Competitive, Continued
Good Credit Equals Good Homeowners Insurance Rates	Back to Basics Part I - Getting a Great Home Mortgage
Five Tips for Repairing Your Credit	What is the Difference Between 'A' and 'B' Credit?
Can You Guess Your Credit Score?	Debt Consolidation Can Affect Your Credit Score
Protecting Your Credit - Bankruptcy v. Foreclosure	Repair Your Credit Now!
First Time Home Buyers
Tips For First Time Home Buyers	What is the Difference Between Pre-qualification and Pre-approval?
Affording a Home	What to Expect With Closing Costs
Calculating the Right Down Payment	Collecting Your Documents for Mortgage Loan
Finding the Right Type of Lender: Part I	Finding the Right Type of Lender: Part II
Common Home Buying Mistakes	Shopping For Mortgage Quotes
Home Mortgages Online	Great Tips for the Best Online Mortgage
Searching For Home Mortgages Online	Determining How Much of a Home Mortgage You Can Afford: Lender Requirements
Determining How Much of a Home Mortgage You Can Afford: Income & Assets	Determining How Much of a Home Mortgage You Can Afford: Liabilities & Future Debt
What To Do When Your Home Mortgage Application is Denied	Fight Identity Theft to Keep Your Mortgage Future Bright
How to Get the Lowest Fees on a Mortgage Loan	How to Get the Best Mortgage Loan
What is the Difference between the Several Types of Mortgage Lenders?	What to Look for in a Mortgage Lender
Should I Rent or Should I Buy?	Common Reasons Why Your Loan Might Be Denied
The Benefits of 15-year Home Loan	Your Legal Rights in the Mortgage Process
What Are You Looking for in a Home? Part I	What Are You Looking for in a Home? Part II
What Are You Looking for in a Home? Part III	Cracking Down on Mortgage Fraud: Tips from a Scammer - Part I
Cracking Down on Mortgage Fraud: Tips from a Scammer - Part II	50-year Mortgage Not the Best Option
Common First-Time Home Buyer Mortgage Questions	Avoiding Common First-time Buyer Mortgage Mistakes
Is a First Time Home Buyer Loan Right for You?	Using Your IRA for a Down Payment
When Should I Start Looking For a Mortgage Loan?	Are Closing Costs Tax Deductible?
The Advantages of Saving for a Down Payment	Is it Safe to Put Zero Down on a Mortgage?
Predatory Lending Practices: Beware of Loan Steering!	Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Strip Homebuyers of Suitable Recourse
How Does the Mortgage Application Process Work? Part I	How Does the Mortgage Application Process Work? Part II
How Does the Mortgage Application Process Work? Part III	How Does the Mortgage Application Process Work? Part IV
Avoid the Shock of Negative Amortization	Home Buying Preparation Timeline - Part I
Home Buying Preparation Timeline - Part II	Home Buying Preparation Checklist - Part III
How Much Mortgage Can You Afford?	When it Comes to Understanding your Loan Terms, the FTC is on Your Side
First-time Home Buyer Essentials	First-Time Home Buyers - Be Prepared for Challenges in Current Market
Back to Basics Part II - Getting a Great Home Mortgage	Watch Out for 'Mortgage Protection' Schemes
Don't Be Fooled by Deceptive Mortgage Ads	Cutting Back on Closing Costs
Determining How Much Home You Can Afford in a Credit-Crunched Market	First-time Home Buyers - Don't Wait for Your Dream House
Smart Home-buying in a Buyers Market	Watch Out for Loans That Sound Too Good to be True
Interest Rates
What's in a Mortgage Loan? Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans	Interest-Only Loans
Getting the Best Rates and Points Combination on Your Home Loan	How Do Federal Interest Rates Affect Your Mortgage?
Locking in Your Interest Rate: Part I	How to Get the Lowest Mortgage Rate
Should you Trade your Adjustable Rate for a Fixed Rate Mortgage?	Mortgage Applications Rise in Latest Week
Fed Leaves Target Rate Unchanged	Healthy Economy Sparks Higher Mortgage Interest Rates
Mortgage Rates Head Downward	Terms to Know to Land the Best Mortgage Interest Rate
The Ins and Outs of Deducting Mortgage Interest	Look for the Best Deal, Not the Best Rate
Understanding How an ARM Loan Interest Rate Works	How Are Mortgage Interest Rates Determined?
What if Interest Rates Fall After I've Locked in My Rate?	How to Get the Best Interest Rates - Be a Smart Shopper
How to Get the Best Mortgage Rate When Rates are Rising	Tips for Getting a Great Interest Rate
Buyers Should Understand Yield Spread Premiums	How Do Lenders Calculate Your Interest Rate?
APR v. Interest Rate - The Difference Explained	The Skinny on ARM Rate Resets
Will a Fed Rate Cut Affect Your Mortgage?	Be Prepared to Do Some Work to Get Your Mortgage Terms Modified
How Can I Get a Lower Mortgage Interest Rate?
Purchasing a Home
The Truth About Balloon Payment Loans	Accelerated Mortgages
Pre-Pay Your Mortgage vs. Investing	The FHA Mortgage Loan Basics
Purchasing Tips in a Buyer's Market	Tips for Buying Foreclosed Homes
Foreclosed Homes: Who To Buy From?	Try ACORN Programs for Mortgage Assistance
Saving for a Home	Financing a Home Construction
Understanding Commercial Property Loans	Condo Considerations
Advantages and Limitations of Mortgage Quotes	Government Help for Mortgage Financing
Adjustable Rate FHA Mortgage Loans	Hybrid Mortgage Financing
Financing Your Mortgage with a Graduated Payment Mortgages	Mortgage Financing With Fixed Rate Loan Variations
Mortgage Financing Options: 30- Year and 15- Year Fixed-Rate Loans	AmeriDream Charity Program - Down Payment Assistance for an FHA Mortgage
FHA Mortgage Down Payment Grants from HART	FHA Mortgage Down Payment Help from the Nehemiah Program
Comparing Loans by Different Mortgage Companies - Part I	Comparing Loans by Different Mortgage Companies - Part II
Becoming a Home Mortgage Co-Signer	A Home Mortgage: How Much Can I Afford?
What is APR and What Does It Mean for a Mortgage Loan?	Down Payment Grant Programs
Down Payment Gift Programs	Closing Costs Explained
Don't Get Stuck with Surprise Fees at Closing	When is the Right Time to Sell Your Home?
Understanding Option ARMs: The Basics	Understanding Option ARMs: Risks and Benefits
Can I Qualify for a Low Down Payment?	The Facts About the 40-year Home Loan
Free Money for a Down Payment	Down Payment Assistance: The Homes For All Program
The Home Search: Where to Look on the Internet - Part I	The Home Search: Where to Look on the Internet - Part II
More Mortgage Tips for the New Year	No Bottom to Housing Market Yet, Poll Says
Possible Tax Breaks for Mortgage Points	How to Buy a Brand-New Home
Finding the Right Real Estate and Mortgage Brokers	What Not To Do When Applying for a Home Loan
The Good Neighbor Next Door Program: Housing Help for Teachers, Police, and Firefighters	Reconsider Paying Off Your Mortgage Early
The Case for Paying Off Your Mortgage Quickly	Learning to Adjust to Adjustable Rate Mortgages
The Right Mortgage Choice for a Short-Term Buy	Homeowners and Home Buyers: Prepare For Sub-Prime Fallout
Beware of the "Cash Back at Closing" Scam	Buying a Home with Zero Down Payment
How Can I Avoid Mortgage Closing Costs?	Understanding Hard and Soft Prepayment Penalties
Starting Your Mortgage Shopping Online	Prepaying Your Mortgage May Not Be Best Move
Should You Buy a Foreclosed Home?	How the 20% Down Payment Came to Be
Should You Prepay Your Mortgage or Invest?	A 15-Year Mortgage? Try a 30-year Mortgage Plus an Investment Plan
Why You Should Say Yes to a Fifteen-Year Mortgage	Important Questions to Ask When Buying a Condo
Will You Still Be Making Mortgage Payments in Your Retirement Years?	Foreclosure-Proof Mortgage Loan Tactics
Choosing the Right Mortgage - Know What You're Getting Into	Private Mortgage Insurance Might Not Be So Bad
Who Services Your Mortgage?	Need Home Improvement Funds? Let Uncle Sam Give You a Hand
Watch Out for IRS Penalties in Short Sales	Mortgage Payments or Retirement Savings? You Can Do Both!
Choosing a Mortgage Lender - Mortgage Banker or Broker?	Do You Need a Piggyback Loan?
Make Use of Your Most Valuable Tax Shelter - Your Home!	FHA Home Improvement Loan May Be Right for You
Ready for a New House? Trade in Your Old One	Getting the Right Homeowners Insurance Coverage
Don't Get Tricked by Teaser Rates	Preying on the Down and Out - Beware of Foreclosure Scammers
How to Make Sure Your Mortgage Broker is Giving You the Best Deal	Common Questions About Title Insurance
Today's Market: Good News and Bad News for Home-buyers	What Happens If Your Mortgage Lender Goes Bankrupt
Choosing the Right Mortgage Home Loan	Find Your Mortgage 'Niche' Before Going Shopping
What Are the Documentation Requirements for a Home Mortgage Loan?	What are Specialty Mortgages?
What to Expect at the Mortgage Closing Table	When Should You Prepay Your Mortgage?
BBB Warns of 'Foreclosure Rescue' Scams	Back to Basics Part III - Getting a Great Home Mortgage
Back to Basics Part IV - Getting a Great Home Mortgage	Understanding the Government's Role in Your Mortgage
Buying Homes in Today's Pricier Areas	All About Conforming Loans
Save Money By Downsizing Your Mortgage Loan Needs	Tips for Getting a Mortgage Loan as Self-Employed Borrower
Who's To Blame for the Mortgage Mess?	Now Could Be the Right Time to Sell
Should the Government Aid Struggling Homeowners?
Home Equity Loans
What is a Home Equity Loan Anyway?	Could a Bridge Loan Help You?
Loans for the Self-Employed	FHA Title I Provides Home Improvement Help : Part 2
FHA Title I Provides Home Improvement Help : Part 1	The Facts of 125% Home Equity Loans: Part I
The Facts of 125% Equity Home Loans: Part III	The Facts of 125% Equity Home Loans: Part II
The Secrets to a Great Rate on Your Home Equity Mortgage	The Best Home Equity Loan
Avoiding Important Pitfalls to Get the Best Home Equity Loan	Which Gives You More Cash: A Home Equity Mortgage or Refinance Home Loan?
Home Equity Mortgage vs. Refinance Home Loan: Interest Rates	The Dangers of Home Equity Mortgage "Loan Flipping"
Avoiding Equity Stripping Scams with a Home Equity Mortgage	Avoiding Home Equity Mortgage Scams: The Bait and Switch
Avoiding Home Equity Mortgage Scams: Deceptive Loan Servicing	Avoiding Home Equity Mortgage Scams: Home Improvement Schemes
The Best Uses for a Home Equity Mortgage Loan	Making Use of Your Home Equity for Retirement
Don't Count on Home Equity to Keep You in Retirement	Avoid Debt Consolidation Scams - Get a Home Equity Loan
Should You Use Your Home Equity for Tuition?	Reverse Mortgages Provide for Your Security But Not Your Heirs
Is Now the Right Time to Make Use of Your Home Equity?	How Do You Repay a Home Equity Loan?
Home Equity Defined	The Tax Facts of Home Equity Loans
What are the Costs of a Home Equity Line of Credit?	How to Cope with Rising HELOC Payments
What Are My Options for Home Improvement Loans?	Should I Pay Off My First or Second Mortgage First?
Think About Waiting on a Federally Insured Reverse Mortgage	Government Offers Home Loans to 'Go Green'
Know Your Rights with Home Equity Loans	Prime Borrowers Beware - The Foreclosure Crisis is Spreading
Is It a Good Idea to Take Out a Home Equity Loan?	Don't Count On Home Equity for College Tuition
Home Equity Loans in Today's Market	Getting a Smart Home Equity Loan
Finding Home Improvement Loan Funding	Home Equity Loans Scarcer for Business Funding
Refinancing a Home
Should You Join The Refinancing Boom?	The Basics of Reverse Mortgages
Avoid Red Flags in the Second Mortgage Process	Weighing the Worth of 2nd Mortgages
The Good and Bad of a Refinance Home Loan	Helpful Tips for Refinance Home Loans
Funding Options for Home Improvement Loans	Which is Gives You More Cash: A Home Equity Mortgage or Refinance Home Loan?
Turning Your FHA Mortgage into a Refinance Home Mortgage	When is the Right Time to Refinance?
What is a HELOC?	What is a Second Mortgage?
Is a HELOC Better than a Second Mortgage?	When Should I Refinance My House?
Why You Should Refinance	Reevaluating Your Mortgage in the New Year
Tax Deductions for Refinance Loan Points	Essential Refinance Mortgage Loan Vocabulary
Finding a Good Lender for a Bad Credit Refinance	Reasons Why You Might Want to Refinance
More Reasons to Consider Refinancing	Are Profits from Cash-Out Refinances Taxable?
Refinancing Your Mortgage and Your Home Equity Loan	Reducing Stress in a Tighter Housing Market
Be Smart About Signing Up to Refinance	Refinancing Your Mortgage with Your Current Lender
Don't Let Your Home Become the Next Empty House on the Block	Saving Big with Refinance Loans
Avoid Predatory Refinance Lending - Read the Fine Print!	Refinance Advice for the Self-Employed
Refinancing May Be Cure for 'Payment Shock'	Should You Pay Points on Your Refinance Loan?
Paying Points on a Refinance Loan - Probably Not the Best Option	Refinance Your Home Loan from Your Own Home!
What are the Costs of Refinancing?	The End of Prepayment Penalties?
Fixed Rate Mortgages Remain the Safe Loan Choice	Should You Pay Off Mortgage Debt with a Biweekly Refinance?
Choosing Between a Refinance or Home Equity Loan	Reasons to Refinance Your Home Mortgage Loan
Can I Refinance in Today's Market?	Tips for Reducing Your Mortgage Debt
Timing Your Refinance is Important